Joe Wassel speaks at 5x5 in 2023

5×5 keynotes reveal!

We are pleased to announce our five keynote speakers for 5×5!

Our keynotes are leaders in the field of public safety communications. They will offer attendees insights into the challenges public safety faces, and share how we are innovating to provide solutions for first responders, today and into the future.

Be sure to register for the 2024 summit. We look forward to seeing you in Chicago this June.

Lori Moore-Merrell, DrPH, MPH

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell

U.S. Fire Administrator

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell has served as the U.S. Fire Administrator since 2021. In the role, she is a champion for data-informed decision-making, and she is leading a national campaign to recruit and train firefighters. She’s bringing the fire service community together to speak with one voice.

Jermaine Harris

Lt. Jermaine Harris

Lieutenant of Police, Chicago Police Department

Jermaine Harris is a 21-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department. He currently serves as a Lieutenant where he develops community-based solutions to violence prevention by collaborating with law enforcement and nonprofit partners.

Richard Carrizzo

Chief Richard Carrizzo

Southern Platte Fire Protection District, FirstNet Authority Board Chair

Chief Richard Carrizzo has been in the fire and emergency service for forty years and is currently the Fire Chief for the Southern Platte Fire Protection District, Missouri. As Fire Chief, he has successfully managed the transition from an all-volunteer to a combination department, to a fully career department operating out of four stations.

Dereck Orr

Dereck Orr

Division Chief, NIST PSCR

Dereck Orr has been the Division Chief of the Public Safety Communications Research Division at NIST for 22 years. Prior to working at NIST, he served as a professional staff member on the Senate Appropriations Committee and served four years at the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) at the Department of Justice.

Joseph M. Wassel

Joseph M. Wassel

Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, FirstNet Authority

Joseph Wassel is responsible for managing FirstNet Authority operations and strategic direction, to include its unique public-private arrangement to deploy and enhance the FirstNet network. Prior to joining the FirstNet Authority, he served as the Executive for the Cyberspace Operations Directorate within the Defense Information Systems Agency.